Olmert’s popularity buoyed by cancer

Ehud Olmert’s disclosure that he has prostate cancer improved his approval ratings.

A poll commissioned by Yediot Achronot after Olmert’s announcement Monday found that 41 percent of Israelis “appreciate” his performance as prime minister, up from 35 percent last month.

Olmert, whose popularity plummeted after last year’s Lebanon war and amid ongoing corruption allegations, also earned high marks in the survey for his “bravery” in coming forward, an act that 61 percent of respondents said they found moving.

Eighty-seven percent of respondents agreed with Olmert’s decision to stay in office. But asked who among Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu is most fit to be prime minister, 14 percent said Olmert, 17 percent said Barak and 35 percent said Netanyahu.

Yediot did not say how many people were polled. The margin of error was 4.3 percent.